I'm surprised I didn't break the TV watching Harris play. Witnessing all his penalties is just absolutely painful. When you watch a player play football, sometimes you see that he has "it." Brandon Harris does not have "it." He doesn't look natural at all playing the position. Get rid of this scrub.

CB Brandon Harris is frustrating to watch. He doesn't have the quickness to sit down on routes and still explode after WRs who are making cuts and that is a big problem. The good news is that he's got pretty good ball skills and when he's in position to make a play, he's pretty good at making that play.

__________________Hey O'Brien: "How do you tell a guy who is used to catching 80 balls a year that he was going to catch 40?"... You jackass.

Originally Posted by Lance Zierlein
CB Brandon Harris is frustrating to watch. He doesn't have the quickness to sit down on routes and still explode after WRs who are making cuts and that is a big problem.

Well, it sure couldn't be because they planned on playing him, because they haven't. Even the best GMs and coaches miss on players. The best ones don't exacerbate the mistake by forcing the issue. If the guy can't play, try to coach him up and see what you can do. If nothing, cut him loose. Harris is closer to being cut loose than he is to starting.

__________________Hey O'Brien: "How do you tell a guy who is used to catching 80 balls a year that he was going to catch 40?"... You jackass.

Harris will be fine. None of us knows why is hasn't played a lot, but the answer could simply be a numbers thing. Kubes isn't known for putting the best player on the field. He's better known for putting the best reputation on the field. See also Cody and Mitchell. Or Foster waiting behind who he waited behind.

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“Of course, if one ignores contradictory observations, one can claim to have an ‘elegant’ or ‘robust’ theory. But it isn’t science.”
— Halton Arp

Harris will be fine. None of us knows why is hasn't played a lot, but the answer could simply be a numbers thing. Kubes isn't known for putting the best player on the field. He's better known for putting the best reputation on the field. See also Cody and Mitchell. Or Foster waiting behind who he waited behind.

I totally and completely disagree with that.

Foster has said himself that he wasn't ready to play. And when he started to show some life and got put in, he promptly fumbled and had to work his way back in.

If Kubiak played people because of their reputation, then Keenan McCardell and Roosevelt Colvin would have been on the field instead of cut during TC.

The thing about Kubiak is that he doesn't trust rookies and he prefers to ease them in. BUT... I don't think he has a ton of input on which DBs play and which ones don't. I think Brandon Harris was drafted in an attempt to patch up the Kareem Jackson problem. But KJ stepped up and started playing better. That would have allowed Harris to play the slot where he should be a better fit except that McCain outplayed him.

The reason Harris isn't on the field is because he's not one of the best CBs we have. Even Alan Ball was better than Harris is.

Foster has said himself that he wasn't ready to play. And when he started to show some life and got put in, he promptly fumbled and had to work his way back in.

If Kubiak played people because of their reputation, then Keenan McCardell and Roosevelt Colvin would have been on the field instead of cut during TC.

The thing about Kubiak is that he doesn't trust rookies and he prefers to ease them in. BUT... I don't think he has a ton of input on which DBs play and which ones don't. I think Brandon Harris was drafted in an attempt to patch up the Kareem Jackson problem. But KJ stepped up and started playing better. That would have allowed Harris to play the slot where he should be a better fit except that McCain outplayed him.

The reason Harris isn't on the field is because he's not one of the best CBs we have. Even Alan Ball was better than Harris is.

I agree with part of what you say. Joseph, KJ and McCain are better than Harris who is 4th IMO. He should be fine this year but does need to step it up. Many of us knocked KJ until his third season. Add an improved Carmichael & we should be good to go at corner.

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I want to be able to recognize the difference between a "want" and a "need" and then I want to be satisfied with getting a need

Well, it sure couldn't be because they planned on playing him, because they haven't. Even the best GMs and coaches miss on players. The best ones don't exacerbate the mistake by forcing the issue. If the guy can't play, try to coach him up and see what you can do. If nothing, cut him loose. Harris is closer to being cut loose than he is to starting.

Miss because the player doesn't have the work ethic, the mental capacity, the minimum amount of maturity required.... yes. Players with "major" flaws in talent & ability (for their position) don't usually get drafted in the second round (unless it's Tim Tebow).

You'll draft an Amobi Okoye because he's got the size, strength, speed, burst, explosion that has been successful in the NFL. Maybe he'll need to add a little weight. Maybe he plays a little high. Heck, I'd draft a corner lacking world class speed because I can compensate with scheme.

But if a corner can't break & run, but you drafted him in the second, he'd have been moved to safety immediately.

Speak for yourself. The rest of us know damn good and well why he hasn't played a lot. He's not been good. When you can't find any playing time as a 2nd round draft pick in a secondary that has shown a need for guys behind JJo and KJ (and even in place of KJ earlier), it's pretty obvious why you aren't playing.

__________________Hey O'Brien: "How do you tell a guy who is used to catching 80 balls a year that he was going to catch 40?"... You jackass.

I agree with part of what you say. Joseph, KJ and McCain are better than Harris who is 4th IMO. He should be fine this year but does need to step it up. Many of us knocked KJ until his third season. Add an improved Carmichael & we should be good to go at corner.

I liked what little bit I saw of Brandon Harris more than the season I saw out of McCain in 2012.

I think McCain plays small. He's got good speed, can change direction well, good coverage skills. But there ain't no guarantee that slot receiver is going to be a little guy. Percy Harvin would have physically abused McCain...... imo, McCain plays small.

Harris is a lot more physical.... maybe he's got short man syndrome, but he's going to get in your grill & make you work for your spot. I like that. He's got a good burst, & though he may not be as fast as McCain, he's more explosive.

Waaaaayyyy too much confidence & if I had to guess, that's what's keeping him off the field.

I liked what little bit I saw of Brandon Harris more than the season I saw out of McCain in 2012.

I think McCain plays small. He's got good speed, can change direction well, good coverage skills. But there ain't no guarantee that slot receiver is going to be a little guy. Percy Harvin would have physically abused McCain...... imo, McCain plays small.

Harris is a lot more physical.... maybe he's got short man syndrome, but he's going to get in your grill & make you work for your spot. I like that. He's got a good burst, & though he may not be as fast as McCain, he's more explosive.

Waaaaayyyy too much confidence & if I had to guess, that's what's keeping him off the field.

A CB cannot have too much confidence. Harvin may light up Harris but he cannot stay on a team; was just traded IIRC. There will always be some player that can beat one of our guys. I think Harris will be Joseph's back up. On another subject, I think Pleasant beats out Keo.

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I want to be able to recognize the difference between a "want" and a "need" and then I want to be satisfied with getting a need

Agreed. When I'm talking about too much confidence keeping him off the field, I'm imagining some kind of entitlement attitude where he's not working as hard as he should, or whatever that has him in the coaches dog-house. I don't think it's his lack of ability to play this game at this level.

If there's a spot on the roster, give Harris some time to develop. Remember Kareem used to look like a stirred pot of ____ but developed into a decent, though not great, CB. Harris might do as well.

Let's all pray to the high heavens that this defense won't be another all-man-coverage/zone-helpless concoction. If they, hopefully, play some zone then Harris could fit in.

Agreed but it is time for Brandon to step up. Mocked him out of school as late round one and when we did not take him in second, I was stunned which turned to excitement when we trade back into second to select him.

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I want to be able to recognize the difference between a "want" and a "need" and then I want to be satisfied with getting a need

Agreed but it is time for Brandon to step up. Mocked him out of school as late round one and when we did not take him in second, I was stunned which turned to excitement when we trade back into second to select him.

I thought he played well when he got to play. Rookie mistakes, sure, but with the playing time he's been getting, that should be expected. I think Kubiak didn't like him. Like Tate, I think he was a Rick Smith pick & Kubiak took it out on the kid.

I thought he played well when he got to play. Rookie mistakes, sure, but with the playing time he's been getting, that should be expected. I think Kubiak didn't like him. Like Tate, I think he was a Rick Smith pick & Kubiak took it out on the kid.

If we're going for pure speculation, I bet Kubiak didn't say jack sh!t about who got played on D.